Court’s value of law firm interest KO’d on appeal
No operating agreement and no buy-sell agreement can trigger dragged-out fighting when a member or owner leaves the firm.
Furrer v. Siegel & Rouhana, LLC
A name attorney in a Maryland law firm withdrew after having his license suspended. He sued the firm for compensation for his 26.5% interest in the firm. The firm countersued for damages related to his mistreatment of client accounts. The trial court determined a value of his interest and also determined damages that the attorney owed the firm for his mistreatment of client accounts. The appellate court affirmed the damages but remanded the valuation of the 26.5% interest.
Maryland Appellate Court Remands for Valuation of Withdrawing Member’s Interest in Law Firm and Affirms Damages Award
A name attorney in a Maryland law firm withdrew after having his license suspended. He sued the firm for compensation for his 26.5% interest in the firm. The firm countersued for damages related to his mistreatment of client accounts. The trial court determined a value of his interest and also determined damages that the attorney owed the firm for his mistreatment of client accounts. The appellate court affirmed the damages but remanded the valuation of the 26.5% interest.
Weinstein v. Weinstein
In this Vermont divorce case, the Supreme Court affirmed the value of the husband’s law practice even though there was evidence of some potential personal goodwill left in the value determined by the lower court. The Supreme Court also affirmed the wife’s expert’s determination of the husband’s income for maintenance purposes. Note that, per the court, “decisions of a three-justice panel are not to be considered as precedent before any tribunal.”
Vermont Supreme Court Affirms Value of Husband’s Law Practice, Declines to Eliminate Personal Goodwill, Affirms Determination of Husband’s Income
In this Vermont divorce case, the Supreme Court affirmed the value of the husband’s law practice even though there was evidence of some potential personal goodwill left in the value determined by the lower court. The Supreme Court also affirmed the wife’s expert’s determination of the husband’s income for maintenance purposes. Note that, per the court, “decisions of a three-justice panel are not to be considered as precedent before any tribunal.”
9 trends that impact a law firm’s value
Valuing law firms is very different from valuing other service businesses because they depend on professional reputation and skills, referrals, a high relative intangible asset base, licenses, client relationships, and price sensitivity. In BVR’s special report, What It’s Worth: Law Firm Value, editor Ron Seigneur tackles nine trends that influence the success and reputation of professional services and should be taken into account when valuing law firms.
Finch v. Campbell
In partnership dispute, appeals court affirms trial court’s “equitable discretion” not to allow plaintiff to offer valuation of his law firm interest that contradicts valuation plaintiff offered for same asset in his divorce trial, benefitting each time.
Court Finds Plaintiff’s Contradictory Valuation of Law Firm Interest ‘Inequitable’
In partnership dispute, appeals court affirms trial court’s “equitable discretion” not to allow plaintiff to offer valuation of his law firm interest that contradicts valuation plaintiff offered for same asset in his divorce trial, benefitting each time.
NJ court’s goodwill ruling comes in for harsh criticism from appellate panel
The flashpoint in a protracted New Jersey divorce proceeding was the valuation of the owner spouse's equity partner interest in a large law firm. A critical issue was whether the value of the interest should include an additional amount stemming from the firm's enterprise goodwill. The trial court's decision elicited stinging criticism from the appellate court.
Law firm acquisitions maintain torrid pace, spelling more opportunities for valuation pros
A press release from law consulting firm Altman Weil provides multiple takeaways for business valuation professionals, all of which indicate that law firm mergers and acquisitions are poised to continue in historic numbers. The industry trend is toward acquisition as the favored method for established firms to find new business.
Busy time for law firm M&A means appraisal ops
It was another busy year in 2016 for law firm M&As, according to a release from Altman Weil, which tracks this activity. BVR has a new installment in its series of What It’s Worth special reports: What It's Worth: Law Firm Value. This will help you better understand the special considerations when valuing a firm of this kind.